Polar Vortex: Historic cold outbreak

The frozen mist from Niagara Falls coats the landscape around Prospect Point at Niagara Falls State Park, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. The Polar Vortex brought high winds and frigid temperatures to the area.  (AP)

The lighthouse at Pere Marquette Beach is completely frozen after a severe winter storm hit Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014 in Muskegon, Mich. The brutal polar air that has made the Midwest shiver over the past few days spread to the East and the Deep South on Tuesday, shattering records that in some cases had stood for more than a century. (AP)

Snowboarders have a frigid slope all to themselves, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014 at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pa. Very few people were out at the mountain due to the Polar Vortex with temperatures dipping down to -4 below zero. (AP)

The Chicago skyline is seen behind a large chunk of ice near North Avenue Beach as cold temperatures remain with wind chills nearing minus 30 Fahrenheit on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in Chicago. Dangerously cold polar air snapped decades-old records as it spread Tuesday from the Midwest to southern and eastern parts of the US and eastern Canada, making it hazardous to venture outside and keeping many schools and businesses closed. (AP)

Ice covers rocks and brush on the break wall at Edgewater Park in Cleveland Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. An official low of -11 degrees broke the 130-year-old record for the date as cold polar air spread from the Midwest to southern and eastern parts of the US and eastern Canada. (AP)

Commuters depart from Union Station with wind chills nearing minus 30 Fahrenheit on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in downtown Chicago.  Dangerously cold polar air snapped decades-old records as it spread Tuesday from the Midwest to southern and eastern parts of the US and eastern Canada, making it hazardous to venture outside and keeping many schools and businesses closed. (AP)

A woman walks back to her car in the long term parking lot at Indianapolis International Airport, Monday Jan. 6, 2014. The coldest, most dangerous blast of polar air in decades gripped the Midwest and pushed toward the East and South on Monday, closing schools and day care centers, grounding flights and forcing people to pull their hoods and scarves tight to protect exposed skin from nearly instant frostbite. (AP)

The US side of the Niagara Falls is pictured in Ontario, January 8, 2014.  The frigid air and "polar vortex" that affected about 240 million people in the United States and southern Canada will depart during the second half of this week, and a far-reaching January thaw will begin, according to AccuWeather.com. (REUTERS)

The US side of the Niagara Falls is pictured in Ontario, January 8, 2014.  The frigid air and "polar vortex" that affected about 240 million people in the United States and southern Canada will depart during the second half of this week, and a far-reaching January thaw will begin, according to AccuWeather.com. (REUTERS)

The US side of the Niagara Falls is pictured in Ontario, January 8, 2014.  The frigid air and "polar vortex" that affected about 240 million people in the United States and southern Canada will depart during the second half of this week, and a far-reaching January thaw will begin, according to AccuWeather.com. (REUTERS)
 

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